Policy Requirements

In Georgia, you are required to have liability insurance to help pay for injuries or damages you might cause to someone else as a result of a car accident. You'll need to have proof of this insurance in order to register your car in GA.

Your Georgia car insurance policy must have the following minimum coverage amounts:

Bodily injury liability:

$25,000 per person.

$50,000 for multiple people in an accident.

Property damage liability:

$25,000 for one incident.

Optional Car Insurance

Most companies that offer insurance in Georgia also offer additional coverage. When comparing car insurance quotes, ask about the following optional types of insurance:

Collision – This coverage will pay for damages to your car due to traffic accidents.

Comprehensive – This coverage will pay for non collision-related damages to your vehicle, such as damages incurred due to vandalism.

Medical and funeral services.

Uninsured drivers.

Rental car.

NOTE: While Georgia law does not require you to purchase collision and comprehensive insurance, your finance company or bank will require you to have these coverage types if you are paying a loan or lease on your car.

Georgia Proof of Insurance

In Georgia, a car insurance ID card cannot be accepted as your proof of insurance. Instead, all government agencies, including law enforcement officers performing a traffic stop, can check the Georgia Electronic Insurance Compliance System (GEICS) to electronically verify that you have valid car insurance.

Make sure that you check your card tomake sure all your information is correct. If the information is not correct on your card, it is probably incorrectwith the GEICS. This can lead to problems verifying your insurance.

If you notice wrong information, contact your car insurance carrier to make sure any misinformation is fixed.

Also remember that your car insurance card still needs to be carried in case of an accident so you can exchange information with the other driver(s).

Driving Without Car Insurance

Through GEICS and the Georgia Registration and Title Information System (GRATIS), the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) will be informed of any change in your car insurance status.

If your car insurance is canceled and you do not replace it, the DDS will send you a notice to comply with Georgia's car insurance laws, and the possible penalties you will face if you don't. Such penalties include fines and driver's license suspensions.

You will not be able to register your car or renew your car's registration in Georgia if GEICS shows that you do not currently hold an auto insurance policy.

Driver's License Suspensions

If your GA driver's license is suspended because you didn't have car insurance, you can get your license reinstated after your first offense by:

Waiting until your driver's license has been suspended for a minimum of 60 days.

As of September 2013, you cannot pay your driver's license reinstatement fees online if your driver's license was suspended because you didn't have car insurance.

Car Insurance Rates in Georgia

Car insurance rates vary by individual.

Georgia car insurance companies will factor in the following to determine your car insurance rates:

Your driving record.

Your car insurance claim history.

The make and model of your car.

Your age.

Your gender.

Your marital status.

Your credit history.

The simplest way to keep your car insurance rates low is by driving safely and obeying all traffic laws.

Car Insurance Discounts

While Georgia does not have any state-mandated car insurance discounts, most insurance companies offer the following discount types:

Good driver discount.

Good student discount.

Multiple-car discount.

You may also qualify for a discount on your car insurance premium if you complete a DDS-approved defensive driver course. Contact your insurance carrier to find out if they offer this discount and to get more details on eligibility.

Car Insurance Fraud in Georgia

Insurance fraud is very costly to insurance companies, and those costs trickle down to you, raising your policy rates.

Car insurance fraud could involve:

Faking an injury after getting into an accident.

Staging car accidents.

Giving false personal information to your insurance carrier.

Overcharging for treatment, if you're a medical professional.

If you know of or suspect insurance fraud, you can report it by calling the Consumer Services Division of Georgia's Office of Commissioner of Insurance at: